Tips being coins and tricks being a magic trick to make a big coin.
I love doing jigsaw puzzles, but would love to create my own. How do I do this?
Last updated: mid 2005
Type: Tip and trick
Reliability: 
- Medium-low
Ease of learning: 
- Very easy
Time saving: 
- Large loss (compared to submitting your own image)
Usefulness: 
- Somewhat useful
Difficulty: 
- Easy
Overall: 
- Mediocre
Do you love doing jigsaw puzzles? Have you ever wanted to create your own without having to pay a fortune? Well, you're in luck! There are two methods of doing this, but the first two steps and the final two steps are always the same. This trick, however, does not work with two-sided puzzles. Almost every puzzle is one-sided so this is only minor. You cannot put photos of your own on a puzzle, however, unless you've got a specialized printer to do so.
First, in any method, buy a jigsaw puzzle. If you want a custom 500-piece puzzle, buy a 500-piece puzzle. If you want a huge 2000-piece puzzle, buy one. If you already have a puzzle available, you can do it instead of having to buy one (preferrably one that doesn't have missing pieces). If you want, buy two sheets of paperboard, which is paper that is large enough to hold a whole puzzle (like 4 feet wide by 3 feet long), but this isn't neccessary.
Second, put the entire puzzle together. It is highly recommended that you build the puzzle on a sheet of paperboard (thick paper that is very large in size, large enough to hold a puzzle; you may use standard paper (method 2) as well). After completing the puzzle entirely (it's better without missing pieces), then comes the hard part. The steps are a bit different, depending on what paper you use.
Method 1: Using paperboard (a large sheet of paper that covers the entire puzzle; this method is the most risky, but it's much faster).
1. Once you've completed your puzzle, place the other piece of paperboard over the puzzle so that it covers it entirely. To help, tape at least 3 of the sides of the paperboard container to secure the puzzle better.
2. Now for the hard part. Carefully, slide the puzzle to the edge holding both pieces of paperboard securely. Jigsaw puzzles are usually pretty strong with all the pieces put together. When you're done, just flip the puzzle over.
3. Once flipped, remove the top piece of paperboard (and the tape) and there you have it.
Method 2: Using standard paper (this method is the least risky, but it's significantly slower)
1. Once you've completed your puzzle, you'll need to break it up into multiple sections, just big enough so that it fits the entire page. For example, if you have a puzzle measuring 19 inches by 14 inches (about that of a 500-piece puzzle), you'll need to split it up into four sections.
---A. The best way to break up a puzzle is to just remove a column of pieces in a straight line (or as close to one as possible).
---B. Reconnect the line of pieces you separated to one of the blocks.
---C. Repeat the process to break up the puzzle into smaller chunks as needed.
2. Move the large sections onto a piece of paper. Place another sheet of paper over it.
3. Carefully, flip the puzzle over and set it back down. Remove the top sheet. Repeat this step for all other chunks you have.
4. Reattach the flipped pieces to form the full puzzle again.
In any of the methods you use, the final step is to draw whatever you'd like to draw on the puzzle. Use anything you have available as you wish. The absolute final step is to break the puzzle apart and work on your own self-created puzzle.
In the unfortunate event that the puzzle breaks apart while flipping (which is why flipping it is the hard part), you'll need to put the puzzle back together. Usually, the parts that break apart are in big clumps so usually it's not a big deal. Using method 2 is the safest and has a lower risk of a major disaster occuring. Method 1, although much faster, has a fairly high risk of the puzzle breaking apart. However, if the puzzle does break apart using method 1, the puzzle is usually in big chunks that you can just simply reconnect. If you wish to lower this risk, use method 1. If you have a rediculously large puzzle (as from 3000-piece puzzles and the such), using method 2 may be your only option. Method 1 is recommended for puzzles with 750 pieces or less.
This trick can be used on any of the chunks you create as well to create smaller puzzles out of the bigger one, such as splitting a 500-piece puzzle into four 125-piece puzzles.
Footnotes:
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